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Freshman Rep. Clint Okerlund, a Republican, is being challenged by Democrat Iva Williams to represent District 42 in the Utah Legislature. The seat represents parts of Draper, Sandy and Cottonwood Heights.

Okerlund, who grew up in Richfield, serves on the boards of the Canyons School District Innovation Center, Visit Utah and Solutions Utah. According to his campaign website, he is the chief financial officer for a start-up biotech laboratory in Sandy, where he lives. His priorities include restoring clean air and the Great Salt Lake, prioritizing education and holding government accountable.

Williams is a Salesforce administrator for MasterControl, a software firm that helps companies manage quality, manufacturing and compliance. Her priorities, according to her campaign website, include attaining affordability, preserving the environment, supporting working Utahns and safeguarding children, workers and the environment from artificial intelligence.

The Salt Lake Tribune posed the following questions, based on a reader survey about the issues Utahns felt were most important this election season, to both of the candidates. Candidates submitted photos and answers through a questionnaire. Answers may have been edited for style and clarity. Candidate responses are listed in alphabetical order by last name.

Election Day is Nov. 3. Mail ballots must be dropped in a drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day or — if returned by mail — in the clerk’s possession by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Utah voters told us government corruption is their top concern in this year’s election. Why do you think voters feel this way? And why should Utahns trust you to represent them?

Okerlund: Serving in the House of Representatives isn’t my identity or my occupation — it’s part of what I do when I’m not acting as a husband, father and CFO, or while serving in other organizations. One of the reasons that I ran for office was to ensure that voters would get straight answers and that our state government would operate with transparency. Aside from my legislative duties, I’m also a concerned citizen of Utah whose family is impacted by government decisions just like everyone else.

Williams: Voters right now are seeing communities show up at county and city council meetings, or before unelected boards, and get ignored on issues that have huge community impact. When people feel shut out of major decisions, trust erodes. You can trust me because I have nothing to gain. I work a full-time job, and I’m not in any business I could legislate to benefit. I’m running for one reason: to carry my neighbors’ voices to the Hill.

Utahns told us affordability is their second-highest priority in this election. How would you help Utahns afford housing, groceries, gas and other day-to-day expenses?

Okerlund: Two ways: higher wages and lower costs. Utah must continue to invest in education and an ecosystem that provides high-paying jobs. When prices go up, we need to earn more. And, the costs that can be controlled at the state level must be addressed wisely. This means smart housing and permitting policies that address supply without impacting quality of life for existing homeowners. It also means keeping taxes low on property, income and Social Security so we can keep more of what we earn.

Williams: I know we’re all feeling squeezed at the grocery store and at the closing table. I’d start by ending the sales tax on groceries, because a basic need shouldn’t be taxed and it hits those who can least afford it hardest. On housing, I’d keep zoning local and use the state’s role to cut red tape and reward cities that speed up permitting. I’d also require transparency before property taxes rise. Affordability starts with a government that listens to the people paying the bills.

Water resources were also a top concern for voters. What policies would you support as Utah looks to balance growth with preservation of the Great Salt Lake and the Colorado River?

Okerlund: I will re-run my bill (HB328), which ran out of time during the general session after making it through the House and through the Senate Committee. This will be one of the landmark Great Salt Lake water bills of the session. It is an easy lift that will have a noticeable impact on water levels in the Great Salt Lake. It defines areas of “non-functional turf” on new commercial and institutional developments, and curtails the use of evaporative sprinklers on “grass that is only walked on when it’s mowed.”

Williams: Every decision our Legislature makes should start with one question: what does this do to our water? Saving the Great Salt Lake must be our top priority, its decline threatens our air, economy and health. We should reward farmers who voluntarily lease water or upgrade irrigation, help Utah families replace lawns, and upgrade state facilities to meet higher water conservation standards. On the Colorado River, I’d push for public hearings before Utah signs any deal.

What is another topic you care about and want to address if elected to public office?

Okerlund: I will continue to pursue my notorious quest to place limitations on the number of bills each legislator is allowed to introduce during the legislative session. Wish me luck!

Williams: Responsible A.I. is a key priority for my campaign. A.I. could change our world for the better, but Big Tech is moving faster than we’re equipped to handle. Companies shouldn’t be allowed to race ahead with technology that could cause serious harm to children, workers or society. As your legislator, I’ll fight for laws requiring A.I. to be developed responsibly, with real safety testing, transparency and accountability, so it benefits people first, not big corporations.

How will you vote on Constitutional Amendment A? If passed, the amendment will stop the practice of publishing the full text of amendments and ballot questions by lawmakers in a newspaper for 60 days ahead of an election and instead require that text to be published on two state websites.

Okerlund: For.

Williams: Against.

How will you vote on Constitutional Amendment B? If passed, citizen-proposed laws that increase taxes would need to be approved by 60% of voters, instead of a simple majority.

Okerlund: For.

Williams: Against.

What’s your favorite book and why?

Okerlund: The Federalist Papers. The importance of an informed citizenry, the proper role of government, checks and balances, an independent judiciary, limiting executive actions to emergencies, and for Congress actually doing the work of the Congress.

Williams: Just ONE? “The Agony and the Ecstasy,” by Irving Stone. It feels like historical fiction (my favorite), but it’s a biography. I loved being inside the mind and life of Michelangelo and getting to understand the politics of his most famous pieces.